On a wet and rather dismal night a disjointed Motherwell shipped more home points as Saints comfortably took all three back to Perth with a 2-0 victory.
Goals from Drey Wright and Melker Hallsberg in the opening minutes of each half was enough to earn St Johnstone a deserved win and bring their lengthy losing run to an end.
Conversely, yet another poor performance on their home turf left a lacklustre ‘Well not only pointless but slipping down to 11th in the cinch Premiership table.
Despite freshening up his side with four of his January signings, Steven Hammell’s men were second best throughout to a much more determined and energetic Saints.
After bringing in seven new faces in the January window, Steven Hammell gave four them a start in this crucial bottom six clash with Saints.
Along with Shane Blaney and Olly Crankshaw, who finished the game against the Paisley Saints on Saturday, Riku Danzaki made his debut in the centre of midfield. Jack Aitchison, who only arrived from Barnsley on the eve of the match, joined Kevin van Veen in the home attack.
With Callum Davidson’s side arriving at Fir Park on the back of seven straight defeats, and Motherwell without a home win since August, something had to give.
And it took the Perth side only five minutes to get their noses in front and set themselves up to end their miserable run.
A long-range effort from Stevie May provided Liam Kelly with a comfortable save. But a minute later the ‘Well ‘keeper was picking the ball out of his net after Wright’s low angled drive skipped past Kelly and in off his far post and give Hammell’s men an early setback.
Despite having the experience of Paul McGinn and the returning Stephen O’Donnell on either side of centre pairing Ricki Lamie and Blaney, the Fir Park defence was repeated exposed by Saints’ front three in the early play.
After 16 minutes ‘Well finally made an impression on Remi Mattews’ goal. Van Veen released Crankshaw but after racing from the half-way his curling shot from 18 yards went straight into the ‘keeper’s arms.
Saints, though, looked far more dangerous and when May slipped the ball through to Nicky Clark he turned Lamie before screwing his shot across the face of goal and wide of target.
Midway through the half ‘Well were dealt a second blow when Blaney limped off with a possible groin strain. That forced a reshuffle at the back, with Max Johnston taking up the right back slot and McGinn moving across to join Lamie.
That didn’t help the Steelmen’s cause as they continued to be second to every ball as Saints chased a second goal and kill the game before half-time.
Twelve minutes from the break there was a VAR check for a possible penalty after Cammy MacPherson tumbled in the home box. But much to the relief of the ‘Well support referee Don Robertson signalled that play should continue.
Four minutes later there was a VAR check at the other end. From ‘Well’s first corner the ball was fed back to Crankshaw but as he tried to get beyond Dan Phillips at the corner of the box he also fell to the turf. But once again the ref waved aside penalty appeals.
‘Well fans were then screaming for handball when Aitchison won the ball inside the ‘D’ and with the ‘keeper off his line, the winger’s early shot at an empty goal was blocked by a defender just inside the box.
After a pretty insipid first half, Motherwell finished the first forty-five exerting some pressure on the visitor’s goal but it wasn’t enough to placate the home fans who aired their displeasure as the team headed for the dressing room.
Realising that a huge improvement was required in the second half to prevent the Steelmen slipping further down the league table, Hammell made two changes at the interval bringing on Brighton left- back James Furlong and Dean Cornelius to add some bite to a toothless midfield.
It was a brighter start for the home side and more appeals for a penalty when Wright bumped into Danzaki 15 yards from goal.
As the ‘Well players urged the referee to review the incident play raced to the other end where the Perth men doubled their lead.
There were appeals for a foul as McGinn lost out to Hallberg at the edge of the box. As the defender fell to the ground May played the ball through the space allowing Hallberg to run through on goal before guiding the ball beyond Kelly and leave the Fir Park men facing an almost impossible task in the remaining 40 minutes.
On the hour mark Stuart McKinstry replaced Danzaki and just in time to see his side pass up the best chance to get back into the game.
The cross from Aitchison sailed over van Veen in the middle of Saints’ goal only to land at Crankshaw’s feet. But with Matthews committed and leaving his goal, the on loan Stockport County striker swept the ball across the goal face and beyond the far post.
The out of sorts van Veen then made way for former St Mirren striker Jon Obikao who had 25 minutes to make an impact and salvage something for his new side.
With 11 minutes remaining and the game drifting towards its conclusion, Furlong, 25 yards from goal, drove a left foot drive over the bar and leave Matthews with a largely untroubled 90 minutes.
